§ MR. D. A. THOMAS (Merthyr Tydvil)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give, for the three months ending 31st March last, the quantities of coal exported at declared values not 99 exceeding 5s., exceeding 5s. but not exceeding 6s., exceeding 6s. but not exceeding 7s., exceeding 7s. but not exceeding 8., and exceeding 8s. per ton; if his attention has been called to the fact that, during the quarter ending 31st December, 1903, the quantity of coal exported at values between 6s. and 7s. was less than 12 per cent, of the quantity shipped at values between 5s. and 6s., and less than 25 per cent, of the quantity shipped at values between 7s. and 8s. per ton; and whether the Customs authorities attribute the smaller quantity shipped between 6s. and 7s. to the remission of the shilling duty on coal exported at a price not exceeding 6s. per ton.
(Answered by Mr. Austen Chamberlain.) The quantity of coal exported during the three months ended 31st March last at a value not exceeding 5s. per ton was 334.782 tons; exceeding 5s. but not exceeding 6s. per ton, 944,413; exceeding 6s. but not exceeding 7s. per ton, 88,597; exceeding 7s. but not exceeding 8s. per ton, 707,897; exceeding 8s. per ton, 8,431,180. The Board of Customs have to official information as to the reason why smaller quantities are shipped at values between 6s. and 7s. per ton, and he explanation may be to some extent a matter of opinion. But I have no doubt that the cause suggested by the hon. Member has much to do with it.